Follow Paul on Twitter: @paulstewart22
My Latin teacher, Melvin Mansur taught me at Groton School: De gustibus nonne disputam est.("Toward taste there is no argument.").
In other words, one man's opinion might differ 180 degrees from another's, and neither has a snowball's chance in hell of convincing the other one to come around to his side. In hockey, 50% of the fans like a hit and the other 50% debate it, didn't see it or don't know what they are seeing or because it's the opposing team, they go with their homer attitude.
Those who are genuinely convinced that man never landed on the moon, Elvis is still alive, and the NHL and officials fix games to maximize the chance of "your" team winning or losing, I'm never going convince you otherwise. So, instead, let me be the first to congratulate you.
You figured it out! There is indeed a giant conspiracy out there... complete with hidden instructions on the puck that can only be viewed with top-secret decoder rings... but it's only against "your" team.
Why would the NHL do such a thing? Because Gary Bettman is determined to ruin your personal happiness if it's the last thing he ever does. Darndest thing, I know.
Now for the rest of you who have even a semblance of a grip on reality, referees and linesmen watch the game with no dog in the race, no real stake other than to get it right.
Like all human endeavors, there is a chance for chance for error. Accept it and get over it or take up officiating and show us all how you can do it better. Tryouts are in June at Rodman Arena. Bring your skates and your talents.
My advice to young officials is that it takes guts as well as ability to don the stripes. So ignore the Cliff Clavins of the world -- the self-professed experts who have never played, officiated or coached the game but are very self-assured of their half-baked ideas and outright misinformation.
Like it not, folks, you can't start the game without the officials and they are an important part of the game, too.
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Paul Stewart holds the distinction of being the first U.S.-born citizen to make it to the NHL as both a player and referee. On March 15, 2003, he became the first American-born referee to officiate in 1,000 NHL games.
Today, Stewart serves as director of hockey officiating for the ECAC.
The longtime referee heads Officiating by Stewart, a consulting, training and evaluation service for officials. Stewart also maintains a busy schedule as a public speaker, fund raiser and master-of-ceremonies for a host of private, corporate and public events. As a non-hockey venture, he is the owner of Lest We Forget.